Wednesday, 19 February 2025

 Ann-Marie HERMANS (South-Eastern Metropolitan) presented a petition bearing 3001 signatures:

The Petition of certain citizens of the State of Victoria draws to the attention of the Legislative Council to the granting of planning permit application PA23/0694 for Veolia Recycling & Recovery Pty Ltd (Veolia) by the City of Casey. The planning permit application is to construct a waste transfer station at 290 Hallam Road, Hampton Park. Planning permission was granted before Councilors had been elected and sworn in, before the rezoning has been approved by the Minister for Planning and while there is current litigation by the Environment Protection Authority (EPA) against Veolia for serious breaches.

The proposed facility is within 250 metres of family homes and in the middle of densely populated areas. Residents of surrounding suburbs have not been properly informed, and those who have are extremely concerned about the serious, adverse environmental and social impacts that will result from processing 550,000 tones of putrescible and inert waste per annum. Over 1,000 objections were received but largely ignored by Casey Council and Administrators. On 12 August 2024, the EPA introduced new buffer and separation distance guidelines to protect the health and safety of residents which the City of Casey override with permit conditions.

The Petitioners therefore request that the Legislative Council call on the Government to ensure that a waste transfer station is not constructed in the South-Eastern Metropolitan region by overturning approval of planning permit application PA23/0694, rejecting development license application APP032219, and investigating the processes which have led to the planning permit application being approved by the City of Casey.

Ann-Marie HERMANS: As this is a petition qualifying for debate under standing order 11.03(10), I give notice that I intend to move ‘That the petition be taken into consideration’ on Wednesday of next sitting week.